Bizarro World

In episode 137 of Seinfeld Elaine meets a new group of friends. “Bizarro Kramer” has great ideas but does not act on them. “Bizarro George” is kind and considerate of others. They are the exact opposite of what main characters of Seinfeld are and what they stand for. It’s like someone turned the Seinfeld world upside down…. With the Giants win Sunday, we are all one win away from being in our own Bizarro World. In just less than 2 weeks we may all live in a world in which the “Bizarro Manning” may have 2 Super Bowl rings.

Let me take you back to 2004 when this all began. Peyton (Manning) already has 54 career wins, 167 TDs, 24,885 yards, has played in 96 straight games and is coming off his first MVP season. All with the perfect amount of fire, confidence and dedication since entering the league in 1998. Then on April 24th, 2004, a skinny, more dopey looking “Brother Eli” (as he is so often called) stands at the podium awkwardly holding a San Diego Chargers jersey after throwing a hissy fit about wanting to play almost anywhere besides San Diego (the exact opposite qualities Peyton displayed). Fifteen minutes pass and the pouty face has worked and Brother Eli is traded to the NY Giants for Philp Rivers (among others).

Years pass, stats accumulate, red carpets are all but rolled out onto the doorsteps of Canton and Super Bowls are won (SB 42 for Eli and SB 41 for Peyton) but along this journey, no one ever questions who the better Manning is, Peyton. In 8 seasons, Eli has thrown 185 TDs, completing 58.4 % of passes with a 7.0 YPA (yards per attempt). In Peyton’s first 8 seasons, he threw for 244 TDs (including a then record 49 in 2004), while completing 64 % of his passes and averaging 7.7 YPA. Peyton does have longevity as well. He has now played 13 seasons (and missed 1) and in that time he has thrown 399 TDs, completed 64.9 % of his passes while maintaining his YPA at 7.6. He has also been to the Pro Bowl 11 times and been named MVP (Associated Press) 4 times. He clearly cements himself as the best Manning.

Of course when it comes to the playoffs, the one stat that matters is wins. That is where this “Bizarro Manning” is starting to creep into the picture. While Peyton is just 9 and 10 in his playoff career with 29 TDs and 19 INTs, Brother Eli is now 7 and 3 (including this seasons run) and has 16TDs to 8INTs while he is on the door step of Super Bowl win number 2.  And with 2 rings the debate will surely begin on what world we live in, our world or a “Bizarro World.”